Garnish button assembly

ABSTRACT

A garnish button assembly for installation as a shift rod associated with the latch system on an automobile vehicle type door and adapted to thwart attempts to manipulate the latch system by a hook-like tool from without the vehicle, the button assembly including a body portion rigidly attached to the shift rod and an enlarged head pivotally supported on the body portion above the door garnish panel. Attempted manipulation of the garnish button assembly by a hook-like tool applies a force asymmetrically to the head thereby to initiate free pivotal movement of the latter for preventing the tool from gaining a firm hold on the button assembly.

Ballou Feb. 5, 1974 GARNISH BUTTON ASSEMBLY Richard P. Ballou, Howell, Mich.

General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich.

Filed: Apr. 17, 1972 Appl. No.: 244,681

Inventor:

Assignee:

11.8. C1 292/336.3, 70/181, 292/1 Int. Cl. E05c 19/00 Field of Search... 292/1, 191, 192, 336.3, 347;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore Attorney, Agent, or FirmSaul Schwartz 5 7] ABSTRACT A garnish button assembly for installation as a shift rod associated with the latch system on an automobile vehicle type door and adapted to thwart attempts to manipulate the latch system by a hook-like tool from without the vehicle, the button assembly including a body portion rigidly attached to the shift rod and an enlarged head pivotally supported on the body portion above the door garnish panel. Attempted manipulation of the garnish button assembly by a hook-like tool applies a force asymmetrically to the head thereby to initiate free pivotal movement of the latter for preventing the tool from gaining a firm hold on the button assembly,

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures GARNISH BUTTON ASSEMBLY This invention relates generally to latch systems for vehicle type doors and more particularly to. an improved garnish button assembly adapted to thwart attempts at unauthorized manipulation of the door latch system from without the vehicle.

Typical latch systems for automobile type doors include a latch mechanism on the door engageable on a body mounted striker, the latch mechanism being actuable between latched and unlatched conditions to releasably maintain the door in a closed position. Such latch systems further typically include a locking mechanism actuable between locked and unlocked conditions for preventing actuation of the latch mechanism to the unlatched condition. For convenience, the locking mechanism normally includes an interior control in the form of a shift rod connected to the locking mechanism and projecting vertically through an aperture in a door trim or garnish panel adjacent the rear edge of the door window, a garnish button being installed on the end of the shift rod to facilitate manual actuation. When the garnish button is depressed the locking mechanism is actuated to the locked condition and when the button is extended the locking mechanism is actuated to the unlocked condition.

In the past, persons seeking unauthorized entry into a locked vehicle have been known to insert hook-like tools around the closed window for the purpose of hooking the garnish button and pulling the latter up to the extended position thereby to actuate the locking mechanism to the unlocked condition. A garnish button assembly according to this invention represents an improvement over heretofore known similar devices and incorporates in an easily manually operable button assembly an extremely simple yet effective deterrant to unauthorized manipulation from without the vehicle.

Accordingly, the primary feature of this invention is that it provides an improved garnish button assembly for a vehicle door latch system. Another feature of this invention is that it provides an improved garnish button assembly particularly adapted to thwart attempts at unauthorized manipulation from without the vehicle. Yet another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a garnish button assembly including a finger grip portion projecting above a door trim or garnish panel and pivotally mounted on a body portion of tbe assembly attached to the shift rod, hooking of the finger grip portion with a hook-like tool being operative to apply asymmetrically to the finger grip portion a force initiating free pivotal movement of the latter thereby to prevent the tool from obtaining a hold on the finger grip portion. A still further feature of this invention resides in the addition to the finger grip portion of a hook-like projection disposed below the garnish panel, the projection hookingly engaging the underside of the panel in response to pivotal movement of the finger grip portion thereby to more positively prevent movement of the garnish button assembly to the extended position.

These and other features of this invention will be readily apparent from the following specification and from the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a garnish button assembly according to this invention showing the latter in the retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a broken away view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the finger grip portion of the garnish button assembly in a pivoted position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane indicated by lines 3--3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of amodified garnish button assembly according to this invention showing the latter in the retracted position; and

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing the finger grip portion of the modified garnish button assembly in a pivoted position.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a typical automobile type vehicle door designated generally 10 is swingably mounted on the vehicle body, not shown, for movement between open and closed positions. The door includes laterally spaced inner and outer panels which are rigidly attached along their vertical and lower edges to form a well therebetween. Typically, the inner and outer panels converge at the upper marginal edge of the door to form a slot extending the length of the door, the slot accommodating a window panel 12 supported on the door by conventional means, not shown, for generally vertical bodily shiftable movement between a raised or closed position, FIGS. 1 and 2, projecting above the door and a lower or open position, not shown, stowed in the well defined between the door inner and outer panels. The upper portion of the door inner panel converging with the outer panel defines a generally flat or slightly sloping sill portion 14 adjacent the window which, for decorative purposes, is covered by a trim or garnish panel 16.

The door has mounted thereon a conventional door latch system including a latch mechanism, not shown, adapted to engage a body mounted striker, not shown, in the closed position of the door, the latch mechanism being actuable from a latched to an unlatched condition to release the striker for permitting opening movement of the door. A locking mechanism, not shown but also conventional, is associated with the latch mechanism and is manually actuable between an unlocked condition and a locked condition preventing actuation of the latch mechanism to the unlatched condition, the door then being locked in the closed position. The locking mechanism is conventionally remotely actuable from either of two locations on the door. From outside the vehicle the locking mechanism is actuable by a key through a lock cylinder, not shown, rigidly mounted on the door outer panel. From inside the vehicle the locking mechanism is actuable through a shift rod 18. For a full and complete description of a typical door latch system having the above-noted characteristics, reference may be made to US. Pat. No. 3,081,117, issued Mar. 12, I963 and assigned to the assignee of this invention.

The shift rod 18 is operatively connected at one end, not shown, to the locking mechanism of the latch system such that vertical bodily shiftable movement of the rod from a retracted position, FIGS. 1 and 2, to a vertically displaced extended position, not shown, effects actuation of the locking mechanism from the locked to the unlocked condition. The distal end of the shift rod is generally vertically aligned with a circular aperture 20 extending through the sill portion 14 and the garnish panel 16. A garnish button assembly according to this invention and designated generally 22 is mounted on the distal end of the shift rod and is adapted, as described hereinafter, to facilitate inanual actuation of the shift rod while discouraging unauthorized actuation from without the vehicle.

The garnish button assembly 22 includes a cylindrical body portion 24 having an internally threaded bore 26 therein and a spherical end 28. A bore 30 extends through the body portion in a horizontal plane and intersects the center of the spherical end 28. The body portion is disposed in the aperture and the bore 26 threadedly receives the distal end of the shift rod thereby to rigidly attach the body portion to the shift rod, the bore being disposed above or outboard of the garnish panel and sill in the retracted position of the shift rod.

The garnish button assembly 22 further includes a finger grip portion 32 having a cylindrical shank 34 and an enlarged head 36 integral with the shank. A slot 38 extends axially from the lower end of the shank and terminates below tbe head 36 in a semi-circular end 40, the slot dividing the shank into a pair of spaced depending legs. Each leg has therein a respective one of a pair of aligned bores 42 which, when the finger grip portion is disposed over the body portion with the depending legs closely straddling the latter, are aligned with the bore 30 in the body portion. A pivot pin 44 extends through the bores 42 in the finger grip portion and is pressed into the bore 30 in the body portion thereby to pivotally support the finger grip portion on the body portion, the slight friction between the depending legs and the body portion functioning to maintain the finger grip portion in an upright attitude. When so assembled, the end of the slot 38 is closely fitted to the spherical end 28 of the body portion and the lower edges of the legs are tapered toward the body portion, as at 46.

In operation, for normal lock mechanism actuation from within the vehile, an operator merely grasps the finger grip portion in any convenient manner and pulls upwardly to actuate the lock mechanism to the unlocked condition. The tendency of tbe finger grip portion to pivot is, of course, easily counteracted by the fingers of the operator. If, however, an unauthorized person outside the vehicle attempts to lift the garnish button assembly by means of a hook-like tool fabricated from a length of wire or the like, the tool will engage the button assembly asymmetrically with respect to the pivot pin 44. Any subsequent upward movement of the tool will then apply an asymmetric force on the finger grip portion causing the latter to pivot about the pin 44 to the position shown in FIG. 2. As the finger grip portion pivots, of course, the hook-like tool merely disengages from the garnish button assembly without having effected any vertical movement of the shift rod. The tapered lower edges 46 effectively prevent a lifting tool from gaining a firm hold at the lower end of the shank and the relatively narrow gap existing between the spherical end 28 of the body portion and the semicircular end 40 of the slot 38 discourages insertion of a tool between tbe body and finger grip portion which might prevent free pivotal movement of the latter.

\ Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, thereshown is a modified garnish button assembly according to this invention designated generally 48. The modified assembly includes a body portion 50 threadedly received on the distal end of shift rod 18 and an elongated finger grip portion 52. The finger grip portion includes an enlarged head 54 and an integral shank 56 which terminates at the lower end in an enlarged hook portion 58. The shank has an axial slot therein which terminates in a semi-circular end 60, tbe slot dividing the shank into a pair of spaced depending legs, only depending legs 62 being shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The finger grip portion 52 is pivotally supported on the body portion 50 by a pivot pin 64 with the depending legs straddling the body portion and with the head 54 and the hook portion 58 disposed respectively above or outboard and below or inboard of the garnish panel 16 and the sill 14.

As seen best in FIGS. 4 and 5, the aperture 20 through the garnish panel and the sill is enlarged to receive the hook portion 58 of the finger grip portion so that the latter is easily vertically bodily shiftable as a unit with the shift rod during movement of the latter between the retracted position, FIGS. 4 and 5, and the extended position, not shown. As with garnish button assembly 22, an operator manually grasps the finger grip portion 52 and exerts a sufficient force thereon to prevent pivotal movement thereof while pulling up in order to effect actuation of the locking mechanism to the unlocked condition. If, however, in the retracted position of the shift rod, an attempt is made to lift the garnish button assembly by means of a hook-like tool, the result will be a force applied asymmetrically to the finger grip portion with consequent pivotal movement of the latter from the position shown in FIG. 4 to a pivoted position, FIG. 5, wherein the hook portion 58 underlies the sill 14. Accordingly, even if the hook-like tool should gain a firm hold on the finger grip portion 52 in the pivoted position of the latter, the hook por tion 58 effectively prevents upward bodily movement of the garnish button assembly and the shift rod.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. In a latching system for a vehicle door including latch means on said door actuable to releasably maintain said door in a closed position, lock means associated with said latch means actuable between an unlocked condition and a locked condition rendering said latch means inoperative to release said door, and a shift rod means operatively connected to said lock means and disposed on said door with an end portion thereof projecting through an aperture in a panel of said door for bodily shiftable movement betwen an extended position and a retracted position corresponding respectively to the unlocked and the locked conditions of said lock means, a garnish button assembly comprising, in combination, a body portion rigidly attached to said shift rod means end portion, a finger grip portion including an enlarged head and a shank portion having an axial slot therein defining a pair of depending legs on said finger grip portion, said enlarged head being adapted to be manually grasped for effecting bodily shiftable movement of said shift rod means, and means supporting said finger grip portion on said body portion with said depending legs straddling said body portion for shiftable movement as a unit with the latter and for pivotal movement about an axis generally transverse of the direction of said bodily shiftable movement of said body portion disposed above said door panel in the retracted position of said shift rod means so that any forces applied asymmetrically to said finger grip portion effect free pivotal movement thereof about said axis.

'2. In a latch system for a vehicle door including latch means on said door actuable to releasably maintain said door in a closed position, lock means associated with said latch means actuable between an unlocked condition and a locked condition rendering said latch means inoperative to release said door, and a shift rod means operatively connected to said lock means and disposed on said door, with an end portion thereof projecting through an aperture in a panel of said door for bodily shiftable movement between an extended position and a retracted position corresponding respectively to the unlocked and the locked conditions of said lock means,

a garnish button assembly comprising, in combination, a body portion rigidly attached to said shift rod means end portion, a finger grip portion including an enlarged grasping head and a shank extending from said grasping head, means defining a slot in said shank dividing the latter into a pair of spaced depending'legs, means on said shank defining a hook-like portion longitudinally spaced from said enlarged head, and means supporting said finger grip portion on said body portion with said depending legs straddling said body portion for pivotal movement about an axis of said body portion, said fin? ger grip portion projecting through said door panel aperture with said enlarged head disposed above said door panel and said hook-like portion disposed below said door panel so that forces applied asymmetrically to said enlarged head effect free pivotal movement of said finger grip portion and concurrent hooking engagement between an edge of said aperture and said hook'like portion thereby to positively prevent movement of said shift rod means from the retracted to the extended position.

3 In a latching system for a vehicle door including latch means on said door actuable to releasably maintain said door in a closed position, lock means associated with said latch means actuable between an unlocked condition and a locked condition rendering said latch means inoperative to release said door, and a shift rod means operatively connected to said lock means and disposed on said door with an end portion thereof aligned with an aperture in a panel of said door for bodily shiftable movement between an extended position and a retracted position corresponding respectively to the unlocked and the locked conditions of said lock means, a garnish button assembly comprising, in combination, a body portion rigidly attached to said shift rod means, a finger grip portion disposed over said body portion and completely above said panel in the retracted position of said shift rod means, means supporting said finger grip portion on said body portion for shiftable movement as a unit with the latter and for pivotal movement about an axis generally transverse of the direction of said bodily shiftable movement, of said body portion, and means on said finger gripportion providing clearance between the latter and said body portion so that said finger grip portion is freely pivotable about said axis through an included angle exceeding 45 in response to an asymmetrically applied force thereon and with said shift rod means in the retracted position. 

1. In a latching system for a vehicle door including latch means on said door actuable to releasably maintain said door in a closed position, lock means associated with said latch means actuable between an unlocked condition and a locked condition rendering said latch means inoperative to release said door, and a shift rod means operatively connected to said lock means and disposed on said door with an end portion thereof projecting through an aperture in a panel of said door for bodily shiftable movement betwen an extended position and a retracted position corresponding respectively to the unlocked and the locked conditions of said lock means, a garnish button assembly comprising, in combination, a body portion rigidly attached to said shift rod means end portion, a finger grip portion including an enlarged head and a shank portion having an axial slot therein defining a pair of depending legs on said finger grip portion, said enlarged head being adapted to be manually grasped for effecting bodily shiftable movement of said shift rod means, and means supporting said finger grip portion on said body portion with said depending legs straddling said body portion for shiftable movement as a unit with the latter and for pivotal movement about an axis generally transverse of the direction of said bodily shiftable movement of said body portion disposed above said door panel in the retracted position of said shift rod means so that any forces applied asymmetrically to said finger grip portion effect free pivotal movement thereof about said axis.
 2. In a latch system for a vehicle door including latch means on said door actuable to releasably maintain said door in a closed position, lock means associated with said latch means actuable between an unlocked condition and a locked condition rendering said latch means inoperative to release said door, and a shift rod means operatively connected to said lock means and disposed on said door with an end portion thereof projecting through an aperture in a panel of said door for bodily shiftable movement between an extended position and a retracted position corresponding respectively to the unlocked and the locked conditions of said lock means, a garnish button assembly comprising, in combination, a body portion rigidly attached to said shift rod means end portion, a finger grip portion including an enlarged grasping head and a shank extending from said grasping head, means defining a slot in said shank dividing the latter into a pair of spaced depending legs, means on said shank defining a hook-like portion longitudinally spaced from said enlarged head, and means supporting said finger grip portion on said body portion with said depending legs straddling said body portion for pivotal movement about an axis of said body porTion, said finger grip portion projecting through said door panel aperture with said enlarged head disposed above said door panel and said hook-like portion disposed below said door panel so that forces applied asymmetrically to said enlarged head effect free pivotal movement of said finger grip portion and concurrent hooking engagement between an edge of said aperture and said hook-like portion thereby to positively prevent movement of said shift rod means from the retracted to the extended position.
 3. In a latching system for a vehicle door including latch means on said door actuable to releasably maintain said door in a closed position, lock means associated with said latch means actuable between an unlocked condition and a locked condition rendering said latch means inoperative to release said door, and a shift rod means operatively connected to said lock means and disposed on said door with an end portion thereof aligned with an aperture in a panel of said door for bodily shiftable movement between an extended position and a retracted position corresponding respectively to the unlocked and the locked conditions of said lock means, a garnish button assembly comprising, in combination, a body portion rigidly attached to said shift rod means, a finger grip portion disposed over said body portion and completely above said panel in the retracted position of said shift rod means, means supporting said finger grip portion on said body portion for shiftable movement as a unit with the latter and for pivotal movement about an axis generally transverse of the direction of said bodily shiftable movement of said body portion, and means on said finger grip portion providing clearance between the latter and said body portion so that said finger grip portion is freely pivotable about said axis through an included angle exceeding 45* in response to an asymmetrically applied force thereon and with said shift rod means in the retracted position. 